According to latest figures from Ucima (Italian Automatic Packaging Machinery Manufacturers’ Association), turnover for the sector, which includes confectionery equipment, is set to see 6.8% growth, to €7.7 billion, for 2018.

As the organisation explained, both strong domestic performance and international markets have contributed to improved financial results.

In 2018, export sales surpassed a value of €6 billion, 6.6% up on the previous year. According to the latest available data relating to the first eight months of the year, the area showing the best performance is North America with 27.2% growth. The USA in particular has remained the largest market for Italian technologies with record growth of +35.4%.

In second place are Africa and Australia (+15.3%), followed by the European Union (+9.6%) and South America (+2.5%). By contrast, there have been falls in exports to non-EU Europe (-5.8%) and Asia (-2.4%).

As for the rankings of individual countries, the USA is followed by France with growth of +3.1% and Germany (+1.5%). Italy has continued its strong performance in 2018 with revenues of €1.6 billion (+7.5%).

“This is in no small part due to the Industry 4.0 Plan, which has boosted the take-up of our companies’ most innovative technologies by Italian customers, although the recovery of the market is another contributing factor,” said Ucima’s chairman Enrico Aureli.

“However, we are concerned about the economic and social policies pursued by the current Italian government, which pay scant attention to the world of production and risk marginalising Italy on the European stage,” continued Aureli.

“In 2019 we expect to see a slight slowdown in growth,” he said. “According to data processed by our Research Department, orders are expected to grow at a rate of between 1 and 1.5%.”